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I scowled at her. "I don't need a gods-damned vacation, Mirrim. I need to be here!"

"Here? Why in the hells do you —" Her eyes went wide. "Are you waiting for her?!"

The ache in my chest twisted harder.

"Just let it go!" I snapped, shoving the pitchfork into another pile of hay.

"Oh my gods. Youare!You're waiting for Kaiya!"

I turned to snap at her again, but a little blue dragon moved to hover in front of me, green eyes swirling eagerly as she held Kaiya's ragged old shawl.

"Sorry, Serali." I chuckled. "Kaiya isn't back yet. I didn't mean to get your hopes up."

The dragonling dropped the shawl at my feet and chirped sadly.

I leaned forward to pat her head. "Don't worry, little one. I'm sure she's fine and will be back in no time. Besides —" I grabbed the shawl and tucked it under one arm as I held out my handkerchief in the other. "Why do you need her when you have me?"

The little blue dragon jerked away, hissing and shaking her head, as if to tell me to shut up. Then she grabbed her shawl and flew back to her sleeping spot on the wall.

"That little dragon misses Kaiya almost as much as you do," Mirrim teased, green eyes sparkling.

I jammed the pitchfork into the pile harder. "Shut up and go help Gram or something."

"Okay, okay," she sighed. "But think about what I said."

"Anything to make you go away."

"Fine." Grinning, she grabbed the pails and strode out.

I let out a relieved sigh. Finally, I could work in silence.

Did I miss Kaiya?

No … but I did wish they'd told me I was fired one fucking day earlier. Perhaps, then I could have gone with her and Jaiel.

Gods, what if she was hurt?

A loud roar interrupted my thoughts, and Stryek crashed into the room, landing just a handful of paces from me.

Little dragons let out surprised chirps and took to flight, but Stryek's attention remained firmly fixed on me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, dropping the pitchfork and stepping forward to calm the enormous dragon.

He shook his head and let out a huff, followed by a sequence of short roars.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand." I gestured to the blue sky outside. "Is everyone okay? Did someone get hurt?"

Stryek's golden eyes swirled faster, and he gestured with his horned head out to the landing.

"Damn! I don't —"

The big dragon movedtowardthe landing, then bellowed loudly.

What had him so agitated?

I jogged to his side, frustration simmering in my gut. I needed Kaiya's damn ring!

Stryek gave me one last look before leaping into the air, powerful wings lifting him higher and higher. Then he let out an enormous roar.